‘ the fa ‘the fa cup ii‘ul‘ei f (m fun," find out why the fa cup fixtures this month kicked off late. down and out, how the festive fixtures are filling the physio rooms. they also coming up in the programme... we hear from coming up in the programme... we hearfrom olympic coming up in the programme... we hear from olympic hockey gold medallist alex danson on her return from 18 months out with concussion. hello and welcome to sportsday. thank you forjoining us. we'll start with the cricket, as it was another dismal display from england against south africa on day one of the second test as they closed on 262—9. they were 221—5 at one stage before losing four wickets for 13 runs. only ollie pope helped

avoid a really low score. our cricket correspondent, jonathan agnew, gave us his assessment from the day's play. there is no doubt, that was a really disappointing day for england. 1—0 down in this series. to win the toss and get the chance to bat first on a pitch that looks to be at its best, to lose that number of wickets, particular from to lose that number of wickets, particularfrom batsmen to lose that number of wickets, particular from batsmen who got themselves well set, it's pretty much excusable. at least in the first test match there is an illness going through the camp. nothing here apart from the incident with rory burns and the football yesterday. but to at least see ollie pope batting as he did, with some freedom, i thought that was an excellent partnership with james anderson first up they got 28 together to at least give something together to at least give something to england to go into the second day with but it seems to me like they are at least 100 runs short. faf du plessis, the captain south africa, talking up spin which may play a pa rt talking up spin which may play a part at the end of this game. england have to get there, with so few runs so far and the likelihood of them not reaching 300, that in a

way is sort of irrelevant. it's down to how england bowl on the second day to keep them in this game. graham onions is part of the bbc social team. he says england will need to rely on a bowling attack without an injured jofra archer. they've certainly got a lot of experience. a lot of test matches, jimmy's playing 150, stuart broad has played over 100 now. lacking a bit of experience from a spinning point of view. the only thing that they are lacking is pace. jofra archer does bring that, obviously. they didn't bring in mark wood but they have that ability to hopefully tie it up and build pressure that way. we ignore the fact opener rory burns has been ruled out after playing football. is there something that always happens in england sessions, do they always play football, is it something that's a lwa ys football, is it something that's always been going on? the problem

that you've probably got as they are probably not very good footballers. of course, they end up kicking peoples ankles and shins and they get bumps and bruises and u nfortu nately get bumps and bruises and unfortunately someone has got injured. the county ground, at international cricket warming up day in and day out, it's nice to change up in and day out, it's nice to change up from just in and day out, it's nice to change ing in and day out, it's nice to change up from just jumping over in and day out, it's nice to change up from justjumping over hurdles and doing things that way, just to change it. it's just and doing things that way, just to change it. it'sjust nice mentally to get away from the stresses of playing national sport. i can understand why they play. the downside is, it has to be rory burns this time, is among has got injured. it's not idealfor this time, is among has got injured. it's not ideal for england this time, is among has got injured. it's not idealfor england or rory burns. because england have been hit with injuries such as this and illness, mentally it must be quite tough to take, because they must be feeling nothing is going their way at the moment? it has been a nightmare tour. the six weeks or four weeks they have been out there, i think everything has been thrown at quite a young group, really.

illnesses, barely getting for players and their performances on the pitch have probably not quite as good as what they from themselves. what us, i think, as fans expect from them as well. i think tomorrow will be a fighting day. if they can keep these crop of players together, they won't have a tougher series than what they have had so far. finally, on tomorrow, what can we expect from england 7 finally, on tomorrow, what can we expect from england ?|j finally, on tomorrow, what can we expect from england? i would like to say they can get towards 300, that would be a really good effort from 260 odd with one wicket. a lot of that depends on jimmy 260 odd with one wicket. a lot of that depends onjimmy anderson just sticking around and ollie pope playing his shots when he gets the opportunity. the big thing for me is using that new ball really well, once they get bowled out. if they can get south africa 100— that will be great, put their middle order, who are relatively inexperienced, under pressure and england might be well in this game. graham onions speaking to me a little earlier. let's look at some of the other stories making the sports news

today. marnus labu—shane scored his fourth century in his last five tests as australia took control of the 3rd test against new zealand in sydney. he finished unbeaten on 130 as they closed day1 on 283—3. rhys webb will be eligible to play for wales in this year's six nations. the scrum half is leaving the french side toulon for the welsh side, ospreys. he will be available for their opening six nations game on 1st february against italy. great britain have lost their opening group match against bulgaria. cam norrie put them ahead but dan evans lost his singles match — before jamie murray and joe salisbury were beaten by the narrowest of margins in the doubles. ahead of this weekend's third round fa cup matches, prince

william has once againjoined up with some of football's famous faces to encourage people to talk openly about their mental health. all games this weekend will start one minute late as fans are shown a film about the issue — narrated by the duke of cambridge. katy austin has more. in life, as in football, we all go through and lows. morecambe footballer kevin ellison knows exactly what that is like. footballer kevin ellison knows exactly what that is likelj exactly what that is like.” couldn't control it. i described my little bit has a dark cloud. i'd be happy and bubbly and all of a sudden, i could literally... bang, like a dark cloud came over me and i'd be a different person. i could feel that coming on me that i had no control over it whatsoever. we can all sometimes feel anxious. he has given his backing to a new film that also features england stars and is narrated by the duke of cambridge. it focus — keeping your mind healthy. we could all start to change things. over the next few days, 32 fa cup third matches will

be played at grounds across the country, all of them will start one minute late, while the film is shown. a chance for millions of fans to pause to think about their own well—being. to pause to think about their own well-being. men are less likely than women to take action to do something about it. whether that is for stress or for feeling low or difficulty sleeping. so the film asks football fans to take a minute, to learn about what they can do to improve their mental health. every mind matters and heads up will show you the simple steps you can take to look after your mental health. that includes downloading a mind plan, which can give guidance on coping with common issues, such as feeling anxious or sleeping badly. prince william is president of the fa and ending the stigma around mental health struggles is a goal he has championed. he discussed it with high—profile footballers for a special bbc programme in october. through this campaign, he hopes to

bring those passions together again and to use football to start the largest ever conversation around mental health. something to look out for this weekend. if you are looking for a giant killing this weekend, keep your eyes on sunday afternoon where non—league side afc fylde travel to bramell lane to play sheffield united. chris wilder says he will make 11 changes to his side against the national league side. i am pleased to say we are joined now by one of the fylde side, james craigen. thank you forjoining us. . you played at bramall lane before but in an national student final, so i suppose this time will be a little different? so,james, so, james, you have played once before at bramall lane but that was ina before at bramall lane but that was in a national student game, so this time it will be a little different?

yes, it will be. the third round of an fa cup a bit different to a university clash but were really looking forward to going back there. we often hear from footballers that it is just another game but is that really the case? look, i think in this case, it's going to be something special for my team—mates of afc fylde. we have not been to the third round before and having the chance to play a premier league game, it's something that's not just league game, it's something that's notjust in league game, it's something that's not just in every league game, it's something that's notjust in every match of a normal weekend. we're really looking forward to it and hopefully it will bea forward to it and hopefully it will be a good atmosphere as well. how have you prepared for a game like this, i suppose it is hard not to get ahead of yourselves? we have had a busy league festive period. we have only been in today to start preparing for that and we have another training session tomorrow. i'm sure the manager will be going through some tactics on how we can ove 1120 m e through some tactics on how we can overcome sheffield united. the fans, it must be so exciting with this huge build—up. what has the reaction been like in the build—up to this

game? yeah, when the draw was made, obviously all the fans were loving and really excited. they have had their eye on the fixture for the last month or so since the draw was made. i'm sure we will take good numbers over to sheffield on sunday. we are looking forward to it and it isa we are looking forward to it and it is a great day out for them as well. because you are not doing amazingly in the league. is this cup run a bit ofa in the league. is this cup run a bit of a boost? yes, it is. probably, to a good time, given us a breakfrom the league after a poor few games. something to look forward to and hopefully we can put a good account of ourselves on sunday and we can ta ke of ourselves on sunday and we can take that performance into the league as well. you will be the first non—league side to play with va are, are you nervous or excited? we would have had a penalty given last week if there had been var, the lads have been chatting about it today as soon as it was announced, see who is going to be putting the

old sign up. really looking forward to it. james, best of luck and thank you for your time. that game kicks off at 2:01pm. you can follow it on five live and the bbc sport website. of course, you can follow the 3rd round of the fa cup across the bbc. liverpool and everton live on bbc one on sunday, as well as arsenal v leeds united on monday evening. and the bbc sport website will have live text commentary and goal clips across the weekend. now, onto someone that's starting the new year we thought we would take a look at the effect on footballers in the top flight. the effect on footballers in the top flight. for most of us, this is the time of year we resolved to get fit. the league footballers it's the point of exhaustion. this weekend, most premier league clubs will play their fifth game in 15 days. before

that, the leaders liverpool were at the world world cup. they will be facing everton in the fa cup. the boys ran 13 kilometres last night to wina boys ran 13 kilometres last night to win a premier league game. i can tell them, try and run only 11 so you are fine for the next game but it doesn't work like this. it is more, it's quicker, it's more physical and demanding in all departments. there are numbers behind the grumbles. according to the website physio room, 120 premier league players are currently injured, including 11, a whole team, and newcastle. spurs lost top scorer harry kane on new year's day, one of seven of their squad currently out. if you look at the number of injuries in the premier league, players over the last two weeks, you realise that recovering is not enough. the players that are not protected players that belong to squads with so many solutions that

there is also a little space for rotation. so, the physios room becomes the front line, it takes more than a magic sponge to nurse footballers through the season because that most gruelling assault course. they are dealing with engines on the brink of overheating. those games in between games are really, really important in minimising risk. it might be a sense of getting a massage, it might be using just a gentle recovery strategies, but at this time of year, particularly with the commercial demands of for example new year's day boxing day fixtures, trying to fit all that in pushes people to the limit. on the other side of this, the cameras. television is at the core of the premier league. two entire rounds of games are shown live over the festive period but liverpool's boss thinks rest will be more. we need to need to talk to the football people andi need to talk to the football people and i think there is a solution possible. and that no one will miss a game and think, why can't i watch a game and think, why can't i watch a football game today question that there will be enough football. we

accept that 100%, we love this game. again, we have to do make sure we all can come through and at the end to the best team wins and not the most lucky with injuries and stuff like this. this season, for the first time there will be a winter break in february. at the premier league's effort to reduce workload but players and managers may still be counting the cost of christmas much later in the year. christmas much now, onto someone that's starting the new year with some good news. alex danson has announced her return to great britain hockey set—up 18 months after suffering a head injury. it left her with a long—term concussion. the olympic gold medallist, has suffered from a long—term concussion after hitting her head on a wall in 2018. but she will be reunited with the rest of the squad on monday with tokyo olympics on the horizon. well, we can speak to her now. this must be a real boost for you, starting 2020 with a return to the gb set up? yes, thank you very much. it's like a dream start to the year

for me. i can't wait to rejoin the squad on monday after what has been a really difficult 18 months and sometimes felt like i would never get to this point. i can't wait to rejoin the group. because what kind of steps have you had to do to make you realise that you are ready to return? it's been very slow. the first six months of my head injury, i could do very, very little. i was in hospital. when i came out, i could hardly get to the bathroom. it's been very, very gradual. i slowly integrated getting outside, getting to shops, communicating with people, up to doing some exercise. soi people, up to doing some exercise. so i feel now is the right time to rejoin, even though i still have a few symptoms. to be back with the group in that environment i think will be good for my health and hopefully will get me back to hockey. it certainly will be. now, just on concussion, is it one of the ha rd est just on concussion, is it one of the hardest injuries you have had to deal with? without question, this has been the most difficult 18 months in my 18 year career, without a shadow of a doubt. it's the

invisible nature of it, it's the unknown. you know, iwas invisible nature of it, it's the unknown. you know, i was hoping that when i first hit my head it would be a couple of weeks. we are 18 months on andi a couple of weeks. we are 18 months on and i am not 100%. it's been incredibly challenging. the team i've had around me have been absolutely fabulous. i'm delighted that i'm being welcomed back to the group. the rehabilitation a medical tea m group. the rehabilitation a medical team have kept me going over this time. knowing that tokyo is fast approaching, does that put you under pressure? i suppose it's an injury that can be unpredictable at times? it's very unpredictable and as i said, i still have a little way to go. of course, ifelt personally said, i still have a little way to go. of course, i felt personally the pressure of tokyo, if i want to return, i understand what it's like being a full—time athlete. this really is for me the last time i would be able to rejoin, even consider being able to be considered for those tokyo olympics. but, of course, my health is the priority so i'm going to go back and i'm going to see what i can do, how i can integrate back into full training

and really go step—by—step and that will be medically led. if that all goes well and we all hope it well and you are lining up a beside the girls in tokyo, how much will this journey have tested you physically as well as mentally? i think for me it has been the ultimate test that i've probably ever experienced in my life. it's physically got me to my absolute lowest and it mentally made me really question whether i'd ever get back to health, let alone back to sport. i've had a great team around me, my husband has been fabulous, as have my family. if i have the opportunity, even to think that i could stand there with my team—mates. .. at the that i could stand there with my team—mates... at the moment, that gives me an enormous amount ofjoy. i'm very aware it's an enormous mountain to climb but yes, if i had that opportunity, i'd look back with immense pride. and also, if all goes well and we see you back in tokyo, there's a chance of retaining the olympic gold medal as well, which i'm sure you have fond memories of

backin i'm sure you have fond memories of back in rio? of course, rio was really like a dream come true. we won eight games in 13 days and became olympic champions, something the team worked so hard for. i've been away 18 months but the team have been doing fabulously well and i know... have been doing fabulously well and iknow... i'm have been doing fabulously well and i know... i'm still very connected, i know... i'm still very connected, i know that is the ambition, looking forward to tokyo. i believe the squad that goes well have a fantastic opportunity of doing their very best to obtain that title. alex, great to see you back end with a smile on your face. best of luck with your recovery and thank you for speaking to us. thanks very much, thank you. the nfl playoffs start tomorrow night. tom brady's new england patriots will play in the wildcard round for the first time in 10 seasons — which means if they are to retain their super bowl title they will need to play a game extra. earlier, i spoke to nfl coach phoebe schecter and asked her what kind of toll that will take on the side. for them to now be in this position and having to actually battle their

way... it's usually been quite an easy walk in the park for them, in terms of their division, so it will be tough but with a hall of fame quarterback like tom brady, i don't doubt they have the skills to get there. just on tom brady, because every year he proved his critics wrong. he comes back stronger, he is 42 and still impressing at quarterback? yes, absolutely. he is pretty much like having a coach on the field playing and not many teams have that ability. he is able to meet with the offensive and defensive coordinators and come out with a game plan. he has played all his opponents now so many times that he canjust his opponents now so many times that he can just see things as they are happening or even before. let'sjust touch on the buffalo bills. somewhere where you interned last year and somewhere where you interned last yearand a team somewhere where you interned last year and a team you know very well. what did you learn from your time in the states, because you are now coaching over here in britain? yes, it's been incredible to be with the buffalo bills. they taught me so

much in terms of developing myself understanding my value within a team but also how it actually works and the level of concentration and focus you need to be able to be at an elite level and how that all operates together. it's been incredible. i feel very fortunate. would you like to go back to the states if you are given the opportunity? yes, absolutely. i think once you have operated at that level of high stress and being around people that are so motivating all the time, it's hard to not almost crave that addiction possibly just want to get back out there and you want to be a part of something bigger than yourself. so for me, i think i can't help but want to be back out there. the bills play tomorrow, what are their chances in the play—offs? tomorrow, what are their chances in the play-offs? when i was with them we played the texans in texas and it was a close game then. i think the bills are about visualisation as well. they are a much different team than they were then. i think they have every opportunity to go out

there and win the game, if theyjust keep consistent throughout. now, let's turn our attention to darts because while one world championship has just finished another is about to begin. the pdc tournament played in front of sell out crowds at alexandra palace. but the bdo world championship, which gets under way this weekend, is struggling to capture the same attention, despite being the original tournament. so, what's gone wrong? the bdo organised the first world championship in 1978, when darts was a popular sport on tv. by 1990, though, disatisfaction with the bdo led to a group of players creating the rival world darts council, which then in 1992 became the professional darts corporation. the last unified tournament was held in 1993 and from the following year onwards, there were two rival world championships.

as the pdc grew, the bdo declined, it decided to move its tournament from the lakeside at frimley green to the bigger capacity indigo at the o2. last month, it was announced that prize money would be lowered and that ticket sales had been poor. earlier, i spoke to former bdo world champion — scott mitchell — who's playing in this year's tournement. i begun by asking him if he was surprised when he recieved a letterfrom the bdo chairman telling him the prize money for the tournement would be cut. there were a few problems at the tournament before as well. the world masters, the prize money was cut there, as well. that was the first inkling, really, we probably had that there was going to be problems. soiam that there was going to be problems. so i am not surprised it happen this time but i'm sure the people in place are doing the best they can with the situation they are in. what was your reaction to the letter? it's like anyjob or any sport or anything, you never want to be told that if you manage to win it or you go farand that if you manage to win it or you go far and deep into the tournament at the prize money is going to be

cut. it's like you are going to be told you will be paid have the money for thejob you do told you will be paid have the money for the job you do day told you will be paid have the money for thejob you do day in told you will be paid have the money for the job you do day in and told you will be paid have the money for thejob you do day in and day out. i'm sure the players and optically out. i'm sure the players and y out. i'm sure the players and optically happy about it but i think most of us know that the show has to go on and i think most of the guys are going to be there and trying all the same, because it is still the world championships and in ten years time, you know, that nobody asks you how much money one but if you are world champion or not. that's true. james jacklin said they have struggled to get a sponsor because of perceptions that the bdo is toxic. my question to you is, is it? again, it's a question the players probably can't answer. as far as we're concerned, we are giving our all to the bdo, turning up to the tournament, doing everything we can. if it's toxic, it's not because of the players, that's for sure. and someone the players, that's for sure. and someone who has been part the bdo, what do you think needs to change? i'm not sure where it goes from

here, if it's just toxic as people are saying then, you know, is there are saying then, you know, is there a future for it? has the bdo come to an end? it's a question that we can't answer at this particular moment in time. do you think it needs to change direction and forget the history? no, ithink needs to change direction and forget the history? no, i think the history... how the bdo works is the lower end of how they find their players from grass roots is probably the best of any other organisation. we have, for me for example, i played in my little local town and then i got really good within that league and then super league is the next step. the captain of the super league came and found me and asked me to play super league, which you then play within your county for stuff you get to the top of your super league team and get asked to play county. so, other organisations are not finding people like they found me. the bdo has a place within darts, it just needs

found me. the bdo has a place within darts, itjust needs to sort the top end out, in how it progresses from the county system up, really. the cou nty the county system up, really. the county system isn't that bad. it finds players that it needs to finds, from the grassroots, which is what the organisation is all about. it is darts for all. the world championship starts tomorrow, how have preparations for you been and what are you expecting from the tournament this year?” what are you expecting from the tournament this year? i am expecting no different. i think from the players a side of things, we just go up players a side of things, we just go up there and try and do the job we have travelled all year to do. we have travelled all year to do. we have all qualified, we don't get given spots. we have to travel the world and qualify. i think it will bea world and qualify. i think it will be a different atmosphere. we are playing in the centre of london, i'm not sure the atmosphere will be the same as lakeside, time will tell. i think change is sometimes good. everyone has been a bit negative towards it and what have you with social media but it could turn out to be the best move the bdo makes but only time will tell. that is all from us, just a reminder of our top

story. england's cricketer struggled against south africa after day at close they were 262—9. there's more on all these stories on the bbc sport website. have a lovely evening, bye for now. good evening, today brought some of the brightest weather of the year so farfor many the brightest weather of the year so far for many parts of the the brightest weather of the year so farfor many parts of the uk quite a lot of sunshine once this cloud clears foster behind me, more cloud, that will be rolling into effect some of us through the weekend. in the grip of some chilly air, it will bea the grip of some chilly air, it will be a relatively chilly night. in shetland, we are likely to see some snow, even to quite low levels, still windy on a farm north of scotla nd still windy on a farm north of scotland as well. outbreaks of rain in the north and west of mainland scotla nd in the north and west of mainland scotland and the northern isles. quite a lot of cloud in northern

ireland. further east and south, where we have clear spells, chilly night, some spots in southern england could get all the way down to freezing to start saturday morning. high pressure down to the south, frontal systems rolling around the top of that high pressure area, bringing a lot of cloud across the western side of the uk, through the western side of the uk, through the south west into wales, north—west england, northern ireland, south—west cotton, cloudy and a bit damp at times. more persistent rain moving across northern scotland. in central and eastern parts of scotland, southern scotland, we should see a decent amount of sunshine at those temperatures just showing signs of creeping up with a little bit across western areas. 10 degrees in plymouth, for example. as we go through saturday night, we saw more cloud rolling in from the west and the odd spot of rain, more persistent rain in northern scotland. this rain on saturday. some spells of sunshine around. it will be a windy day on sunday, vertically across northern ireland and scotland, but those

temperatures, ten in glasgow, 11 in belfast. as we move into monday, we will see a band of rain pushing in from the west. heavy rain, actually. brisk winds with that. the rain unlikely to get to east anglia or the south—east before nightfall and up the south—east before nightfall and up to the north—west, things dry up a little as the band of rain slides its way through. temperatures 9—11. generally speaking, next week, the weather is set to become quite turbulent. the jet stream, weather is set to become quite turbulent. thejet stream, the weather is set to become quite turbulent. the jet stream, the winds high up in the atmosphere, becoming very strong and powerful, bringing deep areas of low pressure in our direction. what that means for our weather as it will be windy, we will see gales, may be severe gales at times. some outbreaks of rain but it will generally feel mild.

this is bbc news. the headlines at seven. us troops kill iran's top military commander in an air strike. qasem soleimani was a strategic mastermind. president strom said he was planning attacks to kill hundreds of americans. we don't seek war in iran but at the same time we are not going to let iran put american passat lives at risk without trying to de—escalate the

situation. relief for